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Western Railway Museum

• 2009
• Return to Park Trains and Tourist Trains

The Western Railway Museum. The parking lot filled up quickly. October, 2009.

A good crowd rides towards the pumpkin patch on Key System bridge unit 182. October, 2009.

In October, 2009, we visited the Western Railway Museum at Rio Vista Junction, which was having its annual pumpkin patch fund raiser. There were lots of happy families. It was not too warm and the traffic was moderate.

Key System Bridge Unit 187 crosses the trestle and arrives at the Bird's Landing stop for the pumpkin patch. Soon it will return to the Western Railroad Museum at Rio Vista Junction. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Key System bridge unit 187 unloads passengers at the Bird's Landing stop. October, 2009.

Two Key System bridge units, articulated electric trains, were operating. This is the biggest fundraiser for the Western Railway Museum and their busiest time of the year. The museum gets the ticket and bookstore revenues, and the local Rotary Clubs get the money from the pumpkin patch to help pay for scholarships and other worthy endeavors.

A local band, the Hipwaders, played at the pumpkin patch. October, 2009.

After visiting the pumpkin patch at Bird's Landing, Key System Bridge Unit 187 carries guests back to the Western Railroad Museum at Rio Vista Junction. The motorman sounds the horn for the Shilo Road crossing. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Key System bridge unit 187's conductor waits to drop off the token as the train leaves the single-track section. October, 2009.

Key System bridge unit 187 waits to leave on its next trip to the pumpkin patch. October, 2009.

Key System bridge unit 182 returns from the pumpkin patch, passing along the side of Carhouse One, nearly at the museum station. October, 2009.

Key System bridge unit 182 has just arrived at the museum station, back from the pumpkin patch. October, 2009.

I was sorry to see that there were no local streetcars running during the pumpkin patch period.

San Francisco Muni 178, built in 1923, and Key System 271, built for the Lehigh Valley Traction Company in 1901, sit outside Carhouse One. October, 2009.

Inside Carhouse One, all of the cars had signs saying that they were closed during renovation. We walked around and I took pictures of the heralds. I've been wanting to use them on my blog.

San Francisco Municipal Railway's classic herald, from blue and gold Magic Carpet 1003. October, 2009.

San Francisco Municipal Railway's worm logo, designed by Walter Landor, from Boeing Vetrol light rail car 1258. October, 2009.

Key Systen herald from 987, built in Key's Emerville Shops. October, 2009.

The Petaluma and Santa Rosa used advertising to fight the encroachment of automobiles and trucks. This advertisement is on the side of Petaluma and Santa Rosa combination car 63. October, 2009.

Indiana Railroad herald from the car which later became Portland Traction Company 4001. October, 2009.

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City lightweight interurban 111. October, 2009.

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City logo from interurban 111. October, 2009.

Melbourne Metropolitan Tramway Board logo from W-2 class tram 648. October, 2009.

Blackpool Transport Corporation logo from boat tram 226. October, 2009.

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